Seven plead guilty in fraud

Cases focused on jobless benefits

Published: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, April 29, 2013 at 11:44 p.m.

Seven Tuscaloosa County residents recently pleaded guilty in Tuscaloosa County District Court to fraudulent claiming and collecting state unemployment benefits.

Five of the guilty were from Tuscaloosa. The five and the amount of unemployment compensation they fraudulently claimed are: Michael Burgess, $2,580; Shannon Biddlecome, $4,066; William Samuel, $2,876; Johnny Turner, $1,685; and Lee Stokes, $4,826. Also pleading guilty were Elizabeth Norwood of Vance, who illegally claimed $4,675 in benefits, and Reginald Greene, of Cottondale, who illegally claimed $1,482.

Each of the seven received a suspended sentence of 90 days in jail, and were put on probation for 24 months. All were also ordered to pay restitution, court costs and a $100 fine.

Charges were brought by the Alabama Department of Labor following an investigation by its Benefit Payment Control Section.

“We at the Alabama Department of Labor want people to know that we are aggressively pursuing cases of unemployment compensation fraud,” said a statement issued Monday by Alabama Labor Commissioner Tom Surtees.

“Especially in these economic times, we want to make sure that all who are entitled to benefits receive them. But at the same time, we will not allow those who deliberately try to defraud the system to go unpunished. We are working with local district attorney offices to make sure that we can identify and prosecute those individuals who are committing these crimes,” he said.

Suspected unemployment compensation fraud can be reported to the Alabama Department of Labor by calling 1-800-392-8019.

<p>Seven Tuscaloosa County residents recently pleaded guilty in Tuscaloosa County District Court to fraudulent claiming and collecting state unemployment benefits.</p><p>Five of the guilty were from Tuscaloosa. The five and the amount of unemployment compensation they fraudulently claimed are: Michael Burgess, $2,580; Shannon Biddlecome, $4,066; William Samuel, $2,876; Johnny Turner, $1,685; and Lee Stokes, $4,826. Also pleading guilty were Elizabeth Norwood of Vance, who illegally claimed $4,675 in benefits, and Reginald Greene, of Cottondale, who illegally claimed $1,482.</p><p>Each of the seven received a suspended sentence of 90 days in jail, and were put on probation for 24 months. All were also ordered to pay restitution, court costs and a $100 fine. </p><p>Charges were brought by the Alabama Department of Labor following an investigation by its Benefit Payment Control Section.</p><p>“We at the Alabama Department of Labor want people to know that we are aggressively pursuing cases of unemployment compensation fraud,” said a statement issued Monday by Alabama Labor Commissioner Tom Surtees. </p><p>“Especially in these economic times, we want to make sure that all who are entitled to benefits receive them. But at the same time, we will not allow those who deliberately try to defraud the system to go unpunished. We are working with local district attorney offices to make sure that we can identify and prosecute those individuals who are committing these crimes,” he said.</p><p>Suspected unemployment compensation fraud can be reported to the Alabama Department of Labor by calling 1-800-392-8019.</p>